First female Southern Baptist pastor dies at 88

COVINGTON, Va.  — Addie Elizabeth Davis died Dec. 3, in her hometown of Covington, Va., after a brief illness. She was 88.

Her ordination to the gospel ministry by Watts Street Baptist Church, Durham, N.C., Aug. 9, 1964, marked the first time a Southern Baptist congregation had ordained a woman to pastoral ministry.But those who led the 1964 service said they were unaware at the time of the occasion’s historic significance. At the time, Davis was a seminary student. She told then-Watts Street pastor Warren Carr of sensing a call as a young girl to preach the gospel.

A Baptist historian said the ordination service “marked a new era for Baptists, and in the 41 years since that event, thousands of women have been ordained by Baptist churches in the South.” Pam Durso, associate director of the Tennessee-based Baptist History and Heritage Society, continued: “Rev. Davis served … as a role model to the many Baptist women who have followed in her footsteps.”

Davis, a graduate of Meredith College and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, both in North Carolina, served churches in Vermont, Rhode Island and Virginia. The Baptist Women in Ministry organization provides annual scholarships to female ministerial students through a fund established in Davis’ honor.  (TAB)